‖ menstruum
(ˈmɛnstruːəm)
Pl. menstrua (ˈmɛnstruːə). Also 7 erron. menstrum.
[L., neut. of mēnstruus adj., monthly, f. mēns-, mēnsis month. Cf. F. menstrue sing., menstruum, solvent, menstrues pl., monthly courses (also OF. menstre), Pr. mestruas pl., Sp., It. menstruo.
In classical Latin the n. occurs only in the pl. menstrua (= sense 1). The development (in med. Latin) of sense 2 is to be explained by the fact that in alchemy the base metal undergoing transmutation into gold was compared to the seed within the womb, undergoing development by the agency of the menstrual blood. The medical writers spoke of the human fœtus as consisting of a ‘spermatic’ and a ‘menstrual’ part, derived from the two parents respectively; the alchemists employed this language in a transferred sense, the ‘menstruum’ with them being the solvent liquid. Cf. quot. 1477 s.v. menstrual B. 2, and the 14th c. quot. given by Littré under Menstrue.]
† 1. The secretion produced in the womb and discharged at the monthly periods. Also pl. menses, catamenia. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xlix. (1495) 166 That superfluyte hythe menstruum for it flowyth in the cours in the mone lyght. 1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters A iii, An ounce therof dronke at nyght causeth women to have her flowres named menstruum. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 222 The Maids are not to be married, till their Menstrua or natural purgation testifie their abilitie for Conception. 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. II. 127 A Tree touched with the Menstrua will lose its leaves. |
† b. Menstrual blood as the nourishment of the fœtus; also transf. Obs.
| 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 586 The Discovery and Application of what may be this proper Menstruum wherein each Seed most rejoyceth in. a 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. iii. iii. 264 The Semina..of the greater Animals required a..more effectual preparation of the Matter, or a Menstruum for their production out of those Semina. |
2. A solvent; any liquid agent by which a solid substance may be dissolved.
| [1610 B. Jonson Alch. ii. iii, Take your lutum sapientis, Your menstruum simplex.] 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1639) 183 If the vehicle or menstrum you give it [medicine] in be also good. a 1626 Bacon Art. Enq. Metals in Sylva (1661) 226 We are to enquire what is the proper Menstruum to dissolve any Metall,..and what severall Menstrua will dissolve any Metall. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. ii. i. 53 Powerfull menstruums are made for its emolition [sc. of crystal]. 1713 Cheselden Anat. iii. iv. (1726) 165 Our digestion is performed by a Menstruum which is chiefly saliva. 1763 W. Lewis Commerc. Phil.-Techn. 95 The most effectual menstruum of gold is a mixture..called aqua regia. 1800 Vince Hydrost. v. (1806) 52 Solids are supposed to be dissolved in menstruums. 1881 B. W. Richardson in Med. Temp. Jrnl. 72, I have given up the employment of alcohol as a menstruum for amyl nitrite in angina. 1898 Rev. Brit. Pharm. 33 Moisten the drug with the prescribed quantity of the menstruum. |
b. fig.
| 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 406 Death is a preparing Deliquium, or melting us down into a Menstruum, fit for the Chymistry of the Resurrection to work on. 1691–8 Norris Pract. Disc. (1711) III. 138 This Union will not last always, Death, that Universal Menstruum, will dissolve it. 1863 Holland Lett. to Joneses xxi. 304 In overflowing animal spirits is to be found..the menstruum of all social materials. 1890 Illustr. Lond. News 26 Apr. 535/3 Paradoxes..are menstruums of friendship, they disintegrate regard. |